Dutch Baseball Team Loses Late Against Nebraska Wesleyan
A three-run ninth inning by Nebraska Wesleyan University broke a scoreless tie as the Central College baseball dropped the series opener with a 3-0 loss Friday.
Central and Nebraska Wesleyan were locked in a scoreless tie through eight innings. It was a pitcher’s duel as Central’s Jackson Torbit struck out 10 in the first eight frames. Torbit issued his first walk to lead off the ninth before giving up a two-run home run to lose the lead. Reliever Bryce Haessig allowed an unearned run to cross as well to put the Dutch in 3-0 hole. The Dutch got two runners on in the ninth inning but couldn’t get any runs across the plate. Central stranded nine base runners, including a bases loaded situation in the eighth. The Dutch were limited to just four total hits. Brayden Sawyer and Garrett Guenther were responsible for all four Dutch hits on the day, each notching two.
Central will look to bounce back and win the series in a doubleheader today at 1 pm that can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS.
Central Softball Splits Doubleheader with Luther
The Central College softball team finished its stretch of 14 games in 13 days with a doubleheader split with Luther College on Friday. The Dutch lost game one 12-5 but came back with an 11-2 win in five innings in the second game.
In the opening game, Luther scored seven runs in the first inning, all with two outs, and added three more in the second. Despite being down early Central didn’t let down and combined for 10 hits to score its five runs. Among those 10 hits, Haley Bach went a perfect 4-4 with 2 RBIs. After the second inning Jadyn Huisman pitched five innings and allowed only two runs on three hits with a strike out. Rylee Dunkin, Mariah Parton, and Emma Lenox all recorded RBIs, while Emma Jensen had two hits and scored two runs.
The Dutch rebounded in game two, scoring 11 runs despite being held to five hits. They also drew five walks. Hannah Higgins led the squad with two hits while also having three RBIs and two runs scored. Dunkin also had a hit and an RBI. Addi Starr and Parton both recorded RBIs without a hit. Bach also added another hit, which at the time was her seventh consecutive, while also scoring three runs and adding an RBI. After giving up seven runs in the first game, pitcher Emma Beck bounced back with a complete game in the second game of the day. She went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits.
The Dutch will travel to American Rivers Conference leading Wartburg College Tuesday for a doubleheader that starts at 3 pm.
Central Men’s Golfers Open in Seventh in Minnesota
Central College opened in seventh place in a competitive field at the 15-team Bobby Krig Invitational men’s golf tourney Friday.
Teams played 36 of the tournament’s 54 holes on Friday at the par-70 Le Sueur Country Club. In chilly, damp weather, the Dutch shot 306-305-611. Kayden Pendergrass is tied for 15th individually at 73-75–148, while Maison Brandt had 77-75–152. Crew Klingner finished the opening round at 78-76–154, Carter Yurgae shot 78-79–157 and Blake Wynn had 82-83–165.
The tournament moves to the New Prague Golf Course in nearby New Prague, Minnesota for the final 18 holes today with an 8 am shotgun start.
Coe Tops Central in Men’s Tennis
For the first time in 11 years, the Central College men’s tennis team won at #1 singles against Coe College.
The Dutch lost the match 6-1, but Ayden Fletcher picked up a 7-5, 6-1 win in his singles match. Coe earned the doubles point despite Fletcher and AJ Wilkins picking up four games in their set at #1 doubles and Jack Briggs and Benny Ramker winning three games at #2. All of the singles matches were straight sets, but Briggs forced a tiebreak in his second set before losing 7-2 at #2.
The Dutch will travel to Storm Lake to take on Buena Vista University Tuesday at 4 pm.